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Original poster

Dd age 13 wants a cat but I dont

100 replies

chasegirl · 22/06/2021 22:09

Her friends cat has just had kittens and Dd is on a mission to break me down so I say yes. She's made all the promises about cleaning and feeding and it would be her cat.

Help me stay strong! Anyone hit a cast iron argument for saying no?

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 22/06/2021 22:11

'I don't want a cat DD'.

That's your cast iron argument. Don't get a pet you don't want. DD can get a cat when she moves out and can take responsibility for one.

Thecathouse · 22/06/2021 22:12

Is she happy to clean up mouse and bird corpses? Maybe point out that a cat might not be so attractive when she has to clean up feathers and blood all over her bedroom floor

Also - if she leaves her things around or clothes on the floor a kitten will either destroy them or piss on them

VimFuego101 · 22/06/2021 22:13

What happens when she goes to uni? She probably won't be able to take the cat to halls/ shared student housing.

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Cats
WimpoleHat · 22/06/2021 22:13

“A cat is a living being. It needs someone to take responsibility for it, or it will get ill and die. You’re not old enough yet to take on that responsibility….and I’m not prepared to/don’t want to.”

PurpleDaisies · 22/06/2021 22:14

You don’t need a better reason beyond “I don’t want one”. That’s it.

You are the grown up. You will be paying for it. Say no.

thistimelastweek · 22/06/2021 22:15

I got a dog when I was 14. I left home when I was 17. The dog died when I was 31.

To be fair, my parents loved the dog; just as well.

FindingMeno · 22/06/2021 22:15

Insurance/ vets bills.
Lack of spontaneity when going away.

Ducksurprise · 22/06/2021 22:18

I disagree, my child bought a pet at 12, now 19 and still does everything for it. From 12 I took a percentage of their pocket money to cover costs (obviously not all of them but I wanted them to understand the responsibilities) at 19 they pay a bit more, they have learnt so much.

Veterinari · 22/06/2021 22:19

That cat could live til your DD is 33.
That's a lot of life changes - boyfriends or girlfriends, uni, a career, a family of her own. Is she really going to take the cat with her through all that?

Financial - veterinary care and food is expensive - you have to cover the costs

Holidays - need a cat sitter or chattery

Legal - you would be the owner and legally responsible

User478 · 22/06/2021 22:32

Get a roomba and some googlie eyes.

Fluffycloudland77 · 22/06/2021 22:34

I’m a cat person but it’s not her call. When she has her own place she can get a cat.

Original poster
chasegirl · 22/06/2021 22:37

Thank you all. I do need to be strong. I think she'd do a lot of the work but she goes to her Dad's every other weekend so it would be down to me those days and I like having 2 days to do my stuff unfettered.

No idea what a room a is Smile dare I Google?

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 22/06/2021 22:38

How is she proposing to pay for it? Cats can be bloody expensive.

DeathByWalkies · 22/06/2021 22:38

It will be nigh on impossible for her to take the cat with her when she leaves home - from bitter experience having a dog / cat makes finding rented property very difficult. I'm currently living with awful damp and rotting floorboards because finding an alternative rental property would be too difficult when I have a dog.

She will likely leave home while the cat is still young and you will be left looking after it.

The only option I'd consider would be adoption or long term fostering of an elderly cat for a local cat rescue - one which is likely to expire in about 5 years!

GlutenFreeGingerCake · 22/06/2021 22:39

Even if she does most of the care a cat would still affect everyone in the house quite a bit and some cats can be a lot of work. Having said that can you really resist the idea of a cute little kitten? They are adorable, you know 🐈

GlutenFreeGingerCake · 22/06/2021 22:41

Roomba is a robot Hoover some people think they have a lot of personality and are like a very clean pet.

mostlydrinkstea · 22/06/2021 22:47

Can you foster cats for a local rescue? Your daughter will experience having animals but you give them back and you don't have a cat for the next 15-25 years. We have foster kittens at the moment. They are gorgeous but we nearly lost a couple to cat flu and the feeding and mucking out regime is relentless. I will be really glad when they go, until the next time.....

feliciabirthgiver · 22/06/2021 22:50

Get her a kitten (just imagine the happiness you will get from her joy?)

Original poster
chasegirl · 22/06/2021 22:53

Her friend has sent pictures of of the kittens. It is very cute..... for now. I just can't think of anything other than hassle and cost

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 22/06/2021 22:55

All kittens are cute. You don’t want one & that’s an end to it.

cashoncollection · 22/06/2021 22:57

I know someone whose cat meows loudly from 4am in summer, pisses on the carpets and shits in the bath. Your cat might not do that, but equally it might.

Don’t do it. You could be dealing with that for 20 years while your DD is off living her own life.

feliciabirthgiver · 22/06/2021 23:00

You wouldn't be posting on Mumsnet if you felt so cut and dry about your decision?

Shylo · 22/06/2021 23:04

You just need to stick to your guns as others have said because it will be you left looking after the cat for sure

We have had lots of pets and are currently at two cats, a dog and a tortoise and I do almost all the care but I don’t mind because I knew they’d be my responsibility when we too got them and I wanted them. However any request for new pets is met with me telling them they can have whatever they want when they have their own home, I don’t want any more animals and thats the end of the discussion

Lollypop701 · 22/06/2021 23:04

Your home will be a scratch post… sofa trashed!

littleredsky · 22/06/2021 23:06

God no. I'm a cat owner/servant and I wouldn't have this. They can live for up to 20 years, your daughter wouldn't be able to take them to uni and would struggle to find a rental that would accept a pet. I love the little furry buggers but I think in this case it wouldn't be sustainable.

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